A SUBSCRIPTION PRAYER

Ah! Give him a tomb, for a tomb is his due,

A shilling, great man, is a trifle to You:

If you give him a tomb, that his name may survive,

May Fortune attend you, and help you to thrive:

May you always have something to praise and approve,

And the pleasure to dream of the girl that you love.

Prepar'd for the worst, but enjoying the best,

With a girl and a bottle he feather'd his nest:

Half sick of the world, in the wane of his life,

To hasten his exit, he took him a wife,

But, finding his fair one a damnable elf,

He grounded his arms — and took leave of himself.